TAMPA, Fla, -- Aaron Boone says his New York Yankees are "hell bent on being a champion" after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

New York started spring training Wednesday still in search of its first title since 2009. The Yankees went 82-20 last year, nearly finishing with a losing record for the first time 1992.

"Last year was not anything anyone in this organization wants or demands or expect," the manager said Wednesday. "I would say we have poured into that. From ownership, to the front office, to the coaches and staff all the way to the players that I do feel like we have prepared properly. We are ready to roll."

Boone revealed right-hander Scott Effross had a setback in his return from Tommy John surgery on Oct. 13, 2022, and probably won't be available for the Yankees until summer. Effross had back surgery in early December and started a throwing program last week.

Catcher Jose Trevino strained a calf muscle and will miss the first couple of weeks of spring training games. Boone is hopeful he will be ready for opening day.

In addition, reliever Lou Trivino was in camp and was set to agree to a $1.5 million, one-year contract. He had Tommy John surgery last May 3.

New York hoped to revive an offense that was 29th in the major leagues in batting at .227, acquiring outfielders Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo acquired in trades. Aaron Judge, D.J LeMahieu, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo all were slowed by injuries last year.

"We got to go prove it," Boone said. "So, I think we have a chance to be a really special team. That's all it is right. We got to go show the world that we're as good as we think we can be."

Boone compared last year to getting sand kicked in the face.

"You know, obviously, going through with what we went through last year as a club, nobody wants that ever again, and that is really left a sour taste," Boone said. "I do feel like we have a group that is always really focused and diligent on on preparing and getting ready to go out have a great season. But I do think there's another level of edge and focus to not wanting that to have that happen again, and we have a lot of guys with pride in there."

Major League Baseball intends to strictly enforce the obstruction rule around the bases this season, instructing umpires to be more diligent in calling the infraction, sources tell ESPN.

The league is holding a videoconference call with managers on Wednesday to inform teams.

Obstruction is defined as the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. The league is focused on the latter part of the rule as it believes infielders are blocking runners' paths to the bag under the guise of fielding the ball from a teammate.

The enhanced enforcement of the rule, which is already on the books, will mostly impact plays around second and third base. The most common infraction is when a middle infielder puts his lower leg on the ground to block the runner's path to second, sometimes leading to hand or ankle injuries depending on how a runner slides. A common infraction at third base involves an infielder moving up the line to block a runner's path as he receives the ball from an outfielder.

Umpires have been instructed to call the runner safe due to obstruction unless the infielder must move into the path of the runner to receive the ball.

In the past, players would police themselves, going into a bag with spikes up or even just blowing up an infielder who was blocking his path. Those acts are frowned upon in today's game, which has led to infielders taking more liberties with blocking a base.

The league is instructing teams to tell their players it is OK to straddle the bag or stand in front or behind it, but not to go to a knee or block the path of the runner unless moving to receive the ball. The call is a judgment one that is not reviewable.

In pre-series meetings, teams would often warn their baserunners of notorious blocking culprits. Josh Donaldson, Ozzie Albies and Bryson Stott are a few of the infielders whose names come up often when it comes to blocking the bases.

The league has been closely monitoring play around the bases since 2021 and came close to enhanced enforcement of obstruction last year, according to sources familiar with their thinking. But with other major rule changes being instituted -- including using bigger bases -- they opted to see if the trend continued. Now they want umpires cracking down and behavior around the bases to change accordingly.

Though umpires could call obstruction more during spring training, most players aren't playing at full speed, so the increase in calls might not start until the regular season.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka is into the quarter-finals of a tournament for the first time in nearly two years.

The 26-year-old reached the last eight at the Qatar Open after her opponent Lesia Tsurenko withdrew before the match through injury.

Osaka returned to tennis last month after giving birth to her daughter Shai in July.

The run in Doha is her best since reaching the final of the Miami Open in April 2022, losing to Iga Swiatek.

A four-time major winner, Japan's Osaka will face an in-form Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-finals.

The Czech former world number one, who won her first WTA title in four years at the Transylvania Open on Sunday, beat compatriot Linda Noskova 3-6 7-5 6-1.

Elsewhere in Doha, Australian Open runner-up Zheng Qinwen was defeated 7-5 6-3 by Canada's Leylah Fernandez, while Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova suffered a 7-5 6-3 loss to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Northampton Saints back James Ramm has become the latest player to sign a new contract with the Premiership leaders.

But he has been restricted to just seven appearances so far this season because of a knee injury.

"This year is a bit of a setback but results are definitely going in the right direction, so why wouldn't we want to stay," the 25-year-old said.

"I came over for a bit of exposure to something different and the long-term thing was always a bit of a goal, so it's really nice to be able to say 'yeah, we're here for another two [seasons].

"I'm not ready to go home, I feel like I've just started my journey here," he told BBC Radio Northampton.

Ramm, who can play at full-back or on the wing, won two player of the season awards at Northampton last term but has not played for Saints since a 36-33 win over Harlequins on 24 November.

The club say, however, that he is now "closing in on a return to action".

His new deal follows those signed by team-mates Tom Lockett, Tarek Haffar, Alex Mitchell, George Hendy, Sam Graham, Robbie Smith, Tom James, George Furbank, Alex Coles and Fraser Dingwall.

Ramm played for the Wallabies at age-group level but has yet to win a senior international cap.

"I don't know what's going on with them at the moment. It looks like there's a bit of restructuring to be done and I'm happy to keep my nose out of it," he added.

Louis Lynagh has been picked for Italy's training squad before their Six Nations game against France.

The 23-year-old son of former Australia captain Michael Lynagh was born in Italy, where his father also played for the Treviso-based club.

Lynagh joined an England training squad in 2021 but was never capped, although he has played for England Under-20s.

Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada announced the inclusion of Lynagh, who is also eligible to play for Australia, in their latest training squad on Wednesday.

The training camp begins in Rome on Sunday, 18 February, a week before Italy travel to Lille to face France in their next match of the 2024 Six Nations.

Italy were edged out by England in their opening match before falling to a heavy defeat by Ireland last time out.

Italy Six Nations squad

Forwards: Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Matteo Nocera, Luca Rizzoli, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Marco Manfredi, Giacomo Nicotera, Matteo Canali, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Andrea Zambonin, Riccardo Favretto, Alessandro Izekor, Michele Lamaro, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani.

Backs: Alessandro Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Stephen Varney, Paolo Garbisi, Leonardo Marin, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Federico Mori, Marco Zanon, Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane, Simone Gesi, Louis Lynagh, Francois Mey, Lorenzo Pani.

Centre Manu Tuilagi has been included in England's initial 36-man squad preparing to face Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on 24 February.

Fly-half Marcus Smith and centre Ollie Lawrence will also join the squad as they continue their rehabilitation.

However, hooker Jamie Blamire, flanker Tom Pearson and utility back Oscar Beard drop out.

Tuilagi is expected to compete with Fraser Dingwall for the inside centre position against Scotland.

Dingwall made his Test debut in the opening win over Italy before retaining his place and scoring his first England try in the victory over Wales.

The Northampton centre says Tuilagi's recall will provide him with "very healthy competition" in the squad.

"Manu offers something different to the centre than we have and he is very experienced," Dingwall told BBC Sport.

"I have spent time with Manu before and have learned from him. If we can find a way where we can compliment each other in training as well, then that will benefit the squad."

England have won both of their opening Six Nations matches for the first time in five years.

However, they have lost their past three meetings with Scotland, who were beaten by France in their last match.

England's Six Nations squad

Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Theo Dan, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Jamie George (capt), Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler, Beno Obano, George Martin, Ethan Roots, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill.

Backs: Danny Care, Elliot Daly, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Alex Mitchell, Will Muir, Max Ojomoh, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi.